Samuel ingels



S. INGELS. FLOOD FENCE.

N0. 315,991. Patented Apr. 14, 1885.

UNrTn-D STATES PATENT @rricn.

SAMUEL INGELS, OF CENTRE, INDIANA.

FLOOD -FENC E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 315,991. dated April 14 1885.

Application filed June 10, 1884. (ModeLl To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAML. INGELS,0fCeI1 tre, in the county of Howard and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fences; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvementin fences, and itis intended more especially for that class of fences which are used either upon ground which is liable to be overflowed or as flood-gates; and it consists, first, in the combination of a fence the panels of which are pivoted at their bottoms to suitable anchors or posts, and which are provided with lookinglevers and floats which are to be operated by the rise of water, with suitable braces, which are also pivoted at their lower ends to suitable posts or anchors, and which are made to support the panels of the fence, and to engage with the locking mechanism; second, in the combination of a fence or a panel of a fence which is pivoted to suitable posts at its bottom, and which is provided at its upper edge with a catch, alever which is pivoted upon the panel, and a float which is made to engage with the lower end of the lever, with a brace which is pivoted at its lower end and provided at its upper end with a pin, and which supports the panel in position until the float is moved by the water; third, in the combina tion and arrangement of parts, which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to provide a flood-gate or a fence which is composed of separate panels, and which is especially intended for those places where the ground is overflowed at times, and which fence, when the water rises to a certain height, will become disengaged from the brace which holds it in a vertical position, and then incline down the stream until after the water has subsided, when it can again be placed in a vertical posit-ion.

Figure 1 represents in perspective a fence embodying my invention. Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and '7 are detail views of the same. Fig. 8 is .a detached view of the brace and locking-lever, taken from the front.

A represents a flood-gate or a panel of a fence, which is pivoted by hinges of any suitable construction to the posts or anchors B, which extend a suitable distance above the top of the ground. If a number of panels are to be used. two panels can be pivoted or hinged to the same post or anchor, as shown in Fig. 6, and thus save the use of one post to every two panels. These panels will be made of any suitable length, according to the width of the stream, or according to the length of the fence which is to be made. The panels may each be made of boards, which run lengthwise, as in a board fence; or each one may be formed of two longitudinal beams or bars, to which a series of strips or stakes are fastened. The lower edge of each panel will extend just down to low water, so that all sand and debris will pass freely under the fence. Each panel is intended, when freed from its brace, to incline down the stream and float in the water, but to remain fastened to its post or anchor until afterthe water hassubsided. Even while the panels are floating in the water or down they are sufficiently raised above the ground or the bed of the stream to form a tolerable fence.

Pivoted to a suitable post or anchor, E, at a suitable distance farther down the stream, is a brace, F, which has a pin, G, projecting horizontally outward from near its upper end. The upper end of this brace rests against the top rail or bar of the panel, and the pin G engages with the hook or catch H, which is fast ened to the top rail or bar, as shown. Pivwhichhas its upper end bent at an angle, so as to catch over the top of the beveled end of the brace, and which has its lower end extended down far enough to engage with the hook or catch upon the endof the float J. This lever turns freely upon its pivot, but does not serve to hold the brace in position, except when the lever is locked in position at its lower end.

The float J consists of asuitable board,which has secured at its. inner end a hook or catch or other similar device, L, which is loosely connected to one of the panels or strips of the oted to the top rail of the fence is a lever, I,

fence by means of the staple a. The device L and staple a form a hinge upon which the float -freely turns when the float is being placed in the lever I upon its pivot or leaves it loose, so

that its upper bent end no longer locks the brace in position. When the float is raised into a horizontal position, as shown, it is sup ported at its inner end by the hook or other device L, which is made to engage with the lower end of the lever, and its outer or free end is supported upon a suitable projection, O, which is fastened to thefence; As the locking of the panel in a vertical position'depends upon this float remaining in a horizontal position after its hook, catch, or other device L has been made to engage with the lower end of the lever, it becomes necessary, in order to prevent cattle from dislodging the float from position, toplacea board or other guard, 0, under the float, so that when cattle try to rub themselves against or get their horns under the floattheywill strike against the guard O, which is placed under the float, instead of against the float itself. a

After each panel or gate has been locked in position, by making the pin near the upper end, of the brace engage with the hook or catch upon the fence,and then making the bent end of the lever catch over the top of the brace, and the hook or catch upon the float catch against the lower end of the lever, so as to hold its upper end firmly upon the top of the brace, the panels of the fence or gate are held in a vertical position until a rise of the waters lifts the float from its support and carries its outer or free end down the stream. Any movement of this float causes the hook or device upon its inner end to become disengaged from the lower end of the lever, and as soon as the brace is freed fromthe pressure of the lever upon its up per end the panel of the fence or the gate drops down the stream, forcing the brace in the same direction. The brace and the panels, or the gate, then remain in the water until the waters have subsided, when it is only necessary to raise them up again, cause thelever to catch over the top of the brace, and the lower end of the lever to engage with the float, when the fence is in position again, ready for use.

By means of this construction the fence or gate automatically releases itself from its vertical position so as to free itself from the press ure of the water and floating substances, and to drop down the stream in such a position that it cannot be hurt.

It will be seen that each panel of the fence is entirely separate from every other one, and that each panel operates entirely by itself,and that all the working parts are raised sufficiently high, so that they will not clog with gravel and rubbish.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A fence-panel which is pivoted at its lower edge, suitable posts or anchors to which the panel is loosely connected, a brace which is loosely connected at its lower end to a post or anchor, and which is provided with a suitable projection at its upper end, a catch or hook upon the gate, and a locking-lever and pivoted float which is operated by the rise of water, all combined and arranged substantially as shown.

2. The combination of a panel of a fence which is pivoted or hinged at its lower edge, suitable posts or anchors to which the panel is loosely connected, a brace which is pivoted at its lower end toa post or anchor, and which is provided with a pin or projection at its upper end, a hook upon the top of the panel, a lever which engages with the upper end of the brace, and a float which engages with the lower end of the lever, and which is operated by the rise of the water, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a panel of a fence which is pivoted at its lower edge, suitable posts or anchors to which the panel is loosely connected, a catch upon the gate, a brace which is pivoted at its lower end, and pro- :00 vided with a horizontal pin or projection to engage with the catch, apivoted lever, a float which is pivoted to the fence, and which is provided with a hook or catch to engage with the lower end of the lever, and which float is supported'in a horizontal position until dislodged by the waters, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a fence panel, a brace used in connection therewith, and a locking-lever pivoted on the panel and oper- .ated by a float, with a float and a cattle-guard,

which is placed underneath the float, substantially as specified.

5. A panel of a fence hinged at its bottom, in combination with a brace which is also hinged at its bottom, a pin which projects horizontally from the side of the upper end ofthe brace, a hook or latch which is fastened to the panel to engage with the pin, a bent lever 12o which is pivoted to the fence, and a float, substantially as shown, for holding the upper end of the bent lever against the top of the brace until operated by the water.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL INGELS.

Witnesses:

A. Y. OoMsTooK, O. F. HOUGHTON. 

